Indian couple names twin babies Corona, Covid

The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus may have made our world stagnant, but that has not dissuaded a couple in Chhattisgarh, one of the 28 states in India to name their twin babies ‘Corona’ and ‘Covid’.

For the couple, the name represents triumph over hardships as the twins were born during the ongoing coronavirus-enabled nationwide lockdown which has brought the world to its knees.

According to the couple, the names would be a reminder of their triumph over the novel virus-induced hardship.

While explaining why they took such decision, the couple said: “Indeed the virus is dangerous and life-threatening but its outbreak made people focus on sanitation, hygiene and inculcate other good habits. Thus, we thought about these names,” she said, giving reasons for their unusual decision.

“When the hospital staff also started calling the babies as Corona and Covid, we finally decided to name them after the pandemic,” she said.

The names, they said, would remind them about all the hardships they conquered amid the lockdown, ahead of successful delivery on the intervening night of March 26-27 at a government hospital here.

However, the couple said they may change their decision later and rename their kids.

I was blessed with the twins – a boy and a girl – in the early hours on March 27. We have named them Covid (boy) and Corona (girl) for now,” Preeti Verma, the 27-old mother of the newborns said.

“The delivery happened after facing several difficulties and therefore, I and my husband wanted to make the day memorable.
“Indeed the virus is dangerous and life-threatening but its outbreak made people focus on sanitation, hygiene and inculcate other good habits. Thus, we thought about these names,” she said, giving reasons for their unusual decision.

“When the hospital staff also started calling the babies as Corona and Covid, we finally decided to name them after the pandemic.

The couple, originally from Uttar Pradesh, resides in a rented house in the Purani Basti area of the state capital.